Recess is in Session

Competitors and outfield flower pickers alike are welcome in the San Antonio Sports & Social Club

By Travis Bowles

Photo Courtesy San Antonio Sports and Social Club

Remember when the best part of the day was escaping to the playground for a game of kickball? While your elementary classroom days might be over, the fun of recess doesn’t have to come to an end just because you’re all grown up. Thanks to the San Antonio Sports and Social Club, adults can compete in everything from traditional sports to playground favorites to time-honored bar activities. Thomas Sturgis, the club’s director of operations, says regardless of what you play, they hope to provide a “fun atmosphere where you can exercise and make new friends.” Want to get involved? Follow these four simple steps.

Pick a Sport or Two

Kickball is among the more popular options but there are also other playground favorites, including dodgeball and wiffleball. Want a throwback to your high school MVP days? Sign up to compete in soccer, sand and indoor volleyball, flag football or indoor, regular and Chicago softball (like regular softball but with a squishier ball and no gloves). For those who prefer games more suited to the bar, try bowling, cornhole, flip cup and more. Don’t be afraid to test a sport you’ve never played. Being a newbie to a game can help keep it fun. Rules for every sport are available on the club’s website so you can prep before your first competition. Teams are forming regularly, including in August.

Attend an Event

While some of the teams require multiple weeks of commitment, the club also hosts one-time events. Take a break from watching the Olympics and join them on Aug. 20 for the Bar Olympics (a competitive-style game day with multiple activities and time to take a few drink breaks). There are also monthly movie nights at the Alamo Drafthouse, happy hours and more.

Be Social

The “social” component of the club’s name is no joke. While regular players say it can help to attend your first event with a friend, that’s not a requirement. The club prides itself on a welcoming atmosphere—no matter the sport—and there’s always a teammate available to answer questions (even if it involves the simple-but-easy-to-forget rules of kickball). There are also post-game happy hours where you can mingle with other teams. New to town? So was Rebecca Jones and she now counts her teammates as among her closest friends. “These people have become my second family,” she says. “Sure, it’s a competition. But having fun is the priority.”

Enjoy the Sidelines

Even if you’re not on the team, there’s still fun to be had. At many sporting events, club members host cookouts on the sidelines and set up lawn games to keep the fans entertained. Players say they’ve seen slip ‘n’ slides, water balloon fights, cornhole and more. Just like recess, the fields are meant to be places where there’s a lot going on and where there’s a little something for everyone—regardless of how competitive.